Oil still



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v ATTOR N EY k w ww P. HEFFLER OIL STILL Filed Jan.

Feb. 24. 1925.

Feb. 24:a 1925.

PfHEFFLER OIL STILL Filed Jan. 29 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pfl/l /P /IfffLf/e INVENTOR Fbb.24.1925. L52871 P. HEFFLER OIL STILL Filed Jan. 29, 1924 5 sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTURNEY Patented Feb. 24, L1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT ortica.

' PHILIP HEFFLER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, .ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO HARRY C. SIMMONS, OF GRAFTON, PENNSYLVANIA. y

OIL STILL.

Application led January 29, 1924. Serial No. 689,314.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

`Be it known that I, PHILIP HEFFLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful improvements in Oil Stills, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to oil stills and more particularly to a still of the regenerative type in which checkers are used.

This invention `is intended more particularly as an improvement over the still disclosed in my U. S. Patent 1,463,698 dated July 31, 1923, and one of the mainobjects of the present invention is to provide a still in which the tank or container will be uniformly heated throughout its entire length. A further object is to provide means for admitting air to tlie checkers, this means being so disposed and arranged that the heat retained by the structure of the casing and the heat generated in the checkers will heat the air admission means toa high temperature so that the air which enters the checkers is preheated. A further object is to provide a still of the character stated of simple construction and operation which may be cnstructed at comparatively low cost. Further objects will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings:-

Figure l is a central longitudinal vertical section through the still, parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 2 is a section taken substantially on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 1;'

Figure 4 is a section taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

The still includes a suitable casing .l of rectangular form, this casing and the parts which are exposed to the action of heat being constructed'of any suitable or preferred refractory material. Casing 1 is divided into twoscompartinents by means of a center wall 2 which extends longitudinally ofthe casing, this center wall ex- 5 and the side Wallssl" and front wall 1 two tending from the bottom 1a of the casing to a of centerl fire boxes or combustion chambers 5 which 'are positioned at opposite sides of' the center wall at the front ofthe furnace. Front wall 1 is provided with suitable-openings 11 for placing fuel in the combustion chambers orfire boxes when coal or like fuel is used, suitable doors being provided to close these openings, as will be understood. 'If preferred, however, oil or gas burners or any other suitable heat generating means may be positioned within the combustion chambers 5. An ash pit 6 is formed beneath fire box 5, a Isuitable grate 7 being supported at thevbottom of the fire box, and suitable openings 6F being provided for cleaning out the ash pits, it being understood that doors of' any suitable or preferred type can be provided4 for closing these openings. A cross wall 8l extends 'from each face of side wall 2 a short distance in rear of bridge` wall 4 and forms ltherewith a trough or pocket 9 for reception of cinders, ashes and other foreign materials which might tend to clog the checkers, it being understood that one of these troughs is provided at each side of the center wall. In rear of trough 9 there is provided a checker 10 of a known construction supported by crossed walls or sills 11 which may be constructedV of tile in a known manner, or of any other 85 suitable or preferred construction. Checker 10 is covered by a covering or floor 12 and the checker terminates a short distance 'from back wall 1a of the casing to leave a vertical space or downcomer 13 which communi- 90 cates at its lower end .with a flue 14 extending from the back wall4 of the casing. A

terminates a short distance from rear wall l 1 of casingv 1 leaving a passover opening 15 which establishes direct' communication between the two spaces at the opposite sides of center wall 2. Dampers 16 are slidablyJ mounted in iiues 14 for opening and 'clos- 105 ing the ysaine so as to control the direction of ow of air and products of combustion thliough the casing, lthese dampers ybeing operated `by means of cables 17 cured theretoV and passed over suitable guide pulleys 18, counter weights 19 being secured to the other ends of these cables to facilitate adjusting the dampers. Any other suitable or preferred means may be employed, however, for closing and opening the fines 14..

Bridge wall 4 is of hollow construction to provide, at each side of center wall 2, a iue cavity 20, these cavities extending in opposite directions from the center wall and alongr the side walls 1b to rear wall 1e of the casing. An air inlet pipe 21 extends from each side wall of the casing beneath the adjacent checker and through center wall 2, this pipe communicating at its outer end with iiue cavity 20 and having its inner end positioned beneath the other checker. Air inlet pipes 22 communicate with the portions of ilue cavities 20 in bridge wall et and have their outlet ends positioned below and in rear of the'checkers positioned at the opposite sides of thecenter wall 2 from the flue cavities 20 with which the respective pipes communicate. Pipes 23 similar to pipes 22 communicate with the flue cavities in bridge wall 4. and are extended through center wall 2. the outlet ends of these pipes being positioned beneath and substantially7 centrally of the checkers at the opposite sides of the center wall to the flue cavities with which these pipes communicate. Air ducts 24 extend into center wall 2 from the front wall 1c of casing 1, these ducts being disposed in superposed relation and communicating with the respective iiue cavities 20 of bridge wall 4. Admission of airto the ducts 24 is controlled by valves 25 slidably mounted in guides 26 at the ront of the casing. By sliding the upper valve 25 into position to uncover the front end of the upper duct 24, as illustrated in Figure 2` air is admitted to this duct, and is cut off from the lower duct. By` reversing the positions of the valves air will be admitted to the lower duct and cut off from the upper duct, as will be understood. i

In using the still fires are built in both of the fire boxes 5. With the damper 16 in the lower flue 14, as considered in Figuresl 2 and 3, closed and the damper in the other iue open, the products of combustion from the upper fire box or combustion chamber 5,

as considered in Figures 2 and 3, will flow over bridge wall 4 and across space 9a between the bridge wall and the Ichecker 10,

these products then flowing directly through the checker into the space 13 and thence through Hue 14 and into a stack with which the fines communicate.' The products of combustion from the other combustion floor 12 yof the otherchecker and passing' through opening 15, after which the direction of fioW of these products is reversedso mazen that they iiow toward the front of the casing in the space between the checker at the up-y per side of center wall 2 and commingle with the products of combustion from the upper combustion chamber flowing therewith through the iirst mentioned, checker. With the dempers in the positions above stated, and valves 25 inthe positions previously referred to, air is admitted to the upper air duct 2A. This air ilows into the upper ilue cavity 20v as considered in Figures 2 and 3 and is drawn through pipes 21, 22 and 23 into `the space beneath the lower checker, this air iowing through the checker and commingling with the products of com` bustion from the lower combustion chamber,

that the air which is drawn through the flue cavities and air ducts and inlet pipes is preheated thus facilitating combustion and also eliminating drop in temperature which., would result from admitting cold air to the checkers. By employing preheated air the heat retained by the checkers is not as quickly exhausted as if cold air were employed so that I thus obtain a maximum heating effect while. also causing the heated air which flows through the checkers and the products of combustion to follow a tortuous pat-h of travel of relatively great length thus obtaining uniform heating of the container 3 and extracting the greater part of heat froni'the air and products of combustion before they enter the flue, thus producing a still of very high efficiency.

Supplemental air supply pipes 27 and 28v extend through the front wall of the casing,

and each of *these pipes is provided in its.

tion. The pipes 27 .extend along the tops of the checkers and have their inner end portions bent at y-righta-ngles to provide arms 27 which` extend through the cross-over opening 15so that the outlet of each pipe lis at the opposite side of center walll 2 to its inlet. When the lowery valve 16. as considered inFig. 4, is closed valve29 .of the f upper pipe 27 'is openpd, ythe valve of the 'lower pipe being closed, and' vice veisaj.

chambers to obtain more complete combus .120

This provides simple and elicient means forv subjected to the direct action ot' very high temperatures, are covered with asbestos or other suitable or preferred protecting and heat insulating material.

lVhile I have described and illustrated my invention' as used in connection with an oil still, itcan also be advantageously used in connection with steam generating plants, as will be understood, due to its high etliciency and uniform distribution of heat. Though my invention is more particularly adapted for use in connection with an oil still, I do not desire to\be limited lto this one particular use.

lVhat I claim is y l. In combination with a casing, a container supported in the upper portion of the casing, checkers in the casing beneath the container and spaced therefrom, heating means at one end of the casing, means for admitting air to the checkers, meansI for causing the products from said heating means to flow through either checker optionally thereby inducing air through the other checker, and means for causing the induced products to flow through the space above said other checker toward one end of the casing and then over the first checker toward the other end of the casing, the induced products commingling with the products of the heating means and flowing therewith through said first checker.

2. In combination with a casing, a container supported in the upper portion of the casing, a center wall dividing the casing into two separate compartments, checkers at oney end ot the casing at opposite sides of the center wall, combustion chambers at the other end of the casing at opposite sides of said center wall, the center wall terminating above the checkers a short distance from the end wall of said casing, lues communieating with-said checkers, and means for closing either flue, optionally, and opening the other flue.

3. In combination with a casing, a co-ntainer supported in the upper portion of the casing, checkers in the casingbeneath` the container, heating means at one end of the casing, means for -admitting air to the checkers, means for causing the products from said heating means to fiowthrough either: checker optionally thereby inducing air through the other checker, and means for causing the induced A,products to flow through the space above said other checker toward one end of the-casing and then over the first checker toward the other end ot' the casing,

the induced products commingling with the products of the heatingA means and flowing therewith through said first checker, the air admitting means being disposed to be heated by the heat retained by the casing structure and generated in the checkers so as to prcheat the air admitted to the checkers.

4. In combination with a casing, a container supported in the upper portion of the casing, a center wall dividing the casing into two separate compartments, checkers at one end of the cas-ing at opposite .sides of the center wall, bridge walls extending from the opposite sides of the center wall to the side walls of the casing, said bridge walls being of hollow construction to provide flue cavities and the side Walls of the casing being pro-vided with flue cavities communi? eating with the flue cavities of the respective bridge walls, the bridge walls forming with the other' end wall and the side walls of the casing combustion chambers, thcc casing being provided with air inlet ducts communicating with the cavities of the respective bridge walls, fiues communicating with the respective checkers, means for closing either flue optionally and opening the other flue, the center wall above the checkers terminating short of the adjacent end,v wall of the casing, and means for admitting air from the flue cavities at either side of the center wall to the checkers at the other side of said Wall.

5. In combination with a casing, a containt-,r supported in the upper portion of the casing, a center wall dividing the casing into two separate compartments, checkers at one end of the casing at opposite sides of the celnter wall` bridge walls extending from the opposite sides of the center wall to the. side walls of the casing, said bridge walls being of hollow construction to provide Hue caviyties and the side walls of the casing being provided with flue cavities communicating with the flue cavitiesof the respective bridge walls, the bridge walls forming with the other end wall and the side walls of the casing combustion chambers, the center wall being provided with air inlet ducts communi- I y tainer supported in the upper. ortion of the casing, a center wall dividing t e casing into two separate compartments, checkers at one end of the casing at opposite sides of the center wall, bridge walls extending from the opposite sides of the center wall to the side tive checkers, means for closing either Hue optionally and opening the other ue, the center wall above the checkers terminating short of the adjacent end wall of the casing, and air conductors communicating with said flue cavities at opposite sides of the center walls, the conductors which'l communicate with the flue cavities at one side of said Wall discharging into the checker space at the opposite side of the center wall.

7. In combination with a casing, a container supported in the upper portion of the casing, a center wall dividing the casing into two separate compartments, 'checkers spaced away from one end of the casing at opposite sides of the center wall, the center walll above the checkers terminating a short distance away from the end wall of the casing, bridge walls extending from the opposite sides of the center wall to the side walls of the casing and spaced away `from the inner ends ofthe checkers, said bridge Walls being of hollow construction to provide flue cavities, the side walls of the casing being provided .with iue cavities communicating with the bridge Wall cavities, means for admitting air to either of the bridge Wall cavities optionally, conductors communicating with the ue cavities, the conductors at each side of the center `wall passing through the checker space at that side of said wall and discharging into the checker space at the opposite side of the center wal1,-lues communicating with the spacesbetween thev checkers and the adjacent end wall of the casing, and means for closing either of said fines optionally and opening the other flue.

8. In combination with a. casing, a container supportedin the Aupper portion of the casing, two checkers at one end of the casing, two combustion chambers at the other end of .the casing, means vfor admitting air to the checkers, and means foi causing the products of combustion from either combustion chamber to flow directly into and through the adjacent checker and for causing the products of combustion from the other chamber toto flow through the casing in one direction and then reverse its direction of flow and jow into andy through the checker vwhich receives directly the products `from its adjacent combustion chamber.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature.`

PHILIP HEFFLER.

getherwith the air from the other checker i (i0v 

